Checkups

I forgot to post an important event on Monday: Natalie had her 15-month check up and Lukas had his 3-year check up. Natalie weighs 18 lbs 10 oz (5th percentile) and is 29 inches (5-10th percentile). Of course, these are percentiles on the typical child curves, and RTS has its own growth curve, where she is around the 50th percentile for height and weight. I was disappointed in her weight because she had been up to 19.5 pounds before she was sick, and she's been eating like a horse since, but I'm sure she'll make it up soon. We've been feeding her 6 ounces per feeding (combined baby food by mouth and liquids by tube) for a week and now we'll start increasing it slowly again.

Lukas is 38.5 pounds (90th percentile) and 39.75 inches (95th percentile). So both kids are well proportioned for height and weight. Lukas had fun answering the doctor's cognitive questions. It's interesting to watch him become more shy with people he doesn't see often: six months ago he would have blurted the answers out, but this time he answered well, but quietly with a shy smile.

I've tried different ways of preparing Lukas for the vaccination. For his flu shot, I think I told him before we left the house. This time, I told him while the doctor was in the room with us. I always tell him it will hurt for a little bit and then go away. I think it's better to give him the information earlier, because this time he kept telling me he didn't want the shot, and the last time he was more ok with it. I also tell him I need his help with Natalie when she gets her shot. It is wonderful that he only cries for a few seconds, but the build up to it is longer.